The day began with some refreshments in the beautiful Sligo City Hall venue before we moved to the chambers for some updates and an overview of the day from Karl Murphy and Laure Antoniotti (EMRA Contact Point entity).
Each of the partners gave an update on their project, including what their latest network actions involved as well as the next steps they will undertake. This activity allowed each partner to become re-acquainted with their colleagues’ transnational project topics and objectives, as well as identifying synergies between the partners and their activities for future bilateral follow-ups.
Following this exercise, the participants were split into three groups and engaged in a peer review session. This was facilitated by Laure using the cartwheel method. This approach involved each of the three groups working on a flip chart and identifying any challenges or obstacles they faced while carrying out their URBACT project.
After a short while, the groups swapped their flip chart with one another and discussed the identified obstacles and how they themselves have tackled these in their own locality, offering insights and exchanging learnings and solutions. The last part of this exercise before we broke up for lunch saw each group present the challenges identified by one of the other groups and the insights/solutions they sought to offer in tackling these obstacles. In wrapping up, the wider group had a short discussion on the items that could be tackled and ones which might need to be accepted as challenging yet worth persevering with! Laure and Karl took away the insights collected on the flipcharts and will seek to find ways to further support our colleagues on their URBACT journey-both now and in the future.
Following a networking lunch at the adjacent Address Hotel, the group engaged in a walk of Sligo Town facilitated by Gail of Sligo BID and Maria of Sligo County Council, which included seeing important sites in the Town, taking in Queen Maeve Square, Tobergal Lane, O’ Connell Street and the Sligo Discover Ireland Centre, home to the Sligo BID and the Tourist Office.
Queen Maeve Square is a focal point of regeneration in Sligo Town (see main picture above and below this paragraph). Once a car park, it now acts as an attractive public space and helps accommodate events and festivals, attracting and welcoming visitors in Sligo Town with a standing capacity of 4,500. The square has four information points detailing Sligo’s deep history, signposting other points for visitors to consider seeing while in Sligo. The square has a map of Sligo’s coast carved into the pavement while ground lighting helps mark the seven close-by Discovery Points along the Wild Atlantic Way. Local illustrator Annie West designed the Square’s orientation sign to further aid visitors.
The group departed Sligo Town later that afternoon after a positive and fun-filled day of exchanging and learning. The yearly meet-ups help to reinforce to the project partners that in addition to their transnational partners, they have a domestic network of URBACT partners with which to engage and learn from! Some of the participants will see each other again quite soon as we head to Wroclaw, Poland for the URBACT City Festival in the second week of April. Limerick City and County Council will be one of three Irish Good Practices on display!